Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park (Saint Paul, MN)

The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park in Saint Paul, MN is hands down one of my favorite places to visit! The experience is so amazing with the gorgeous glasshouse, beautiful seasonal flowers, exotic plants, lovely scents, and so much more! I recently visited the Conservatory on a chilly, gray Sunday in January – I needed some color and warmth! – and it was exactly what I was looking for! Come along as I share my experience, the history of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park, and information for planning your visit.

History

For over one hundred years, Como Park has played a crucial role in meeting the recreational needs of Saint Paul residents and surrounding communities. Frederick Nussbaumer was the Superintendent of Parks from 1891 to 1922, and he worked tirelessly to create an outdoor haven for the area’s urban population including a wide variety of free or reasonably priced recreational activities, services, and educational opportunities for all park visitors.

Today Como Park is operated by the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory has two acres under glass with a number of different wings dedicated to a variety of plant life including bonsai trees, ferns, orchids, and seasonal flowers. The Conservatory also features many outdoor gardens.

On Sunday, November 7, 1915, the Como Park Conservatory opened with the sounds of Snyder’s Orchestra playing for the visitors. In 1925, the Conservatory grew to include the traditions of the Holiday Flower Show and the Spring Flower Show. It now holds Winter, Summer, and Fall Flower Shows – I viewed the Winter Flow Show during my visit, and it was so beautiful with the pinks and purples. However, I must say the Holiday and Spring Flower Shows are probably my favorites – they are so lovely with red poinsettias during the holidays and bright colors during the spring! In 1937, the Holiday Flower Show included a faux pipe organ installed in the Sunken Garden.

On June 23, 1962, a severe hailstorm caused major destruction at the Como Park Conservatory. Golf-ball sized hailstones crashed through and shattered the glass causing half of the glass in the show houses and two-thirds of the glass in the growing houses to break. Many of the plants were also damaged. Fiberglass replaced most of the damaged glass, so the conservatory could be reopened.

On November 17, 1974, Como Park Conservatory was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. A major renovation of the Conservatory began in 1987, using solicited funds, and was completed in 1992. All the glass was replaced, the heat system was updated, hydronic heat was added in the Sunken Garden, structural elements were sand blasted and repainted, new electrical lighting was added, and all new growing ranges were built. In September 2000, the growing house roof of the Conservatory was replaced with impact resistant acrylic, improving the light intensity by 30%. Renovation of the upper planting beds in the Sunken Garden was completed in 2001.

In 2002, the Donald McNeely family provided a generous gift, and the Conservatory was renamed the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park as a memorial for a woman who made many contributions to arts and culture. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory hosts a wide variety of events each year including Holiday Teas, Music Under Glass, and Valentine’s Day Dinners. Years ago I attended a Holiday Tea with my mom, and we had the best time! It was so much fun sitting amongst the tropical trees, sipping hot tea, and eating scrumptious scones.

In 2005, the Fern Room and Orchid House were added to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. The Fern Room houses tropical ferns from around the world together with eleven species of tree ferns. The room also features a cascading waterfall, three pools, and photovoltaic cells on the glass roof. Visitors can look through the glass door to view a variety of Como’s genetically diverse and award-winning orchids.

The Ordway Gardens became an addition to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in April 2013. It has created year-round viewing of Como’s nationally acclaimed Bonsai collection and the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden. The wing features a Bonsai gallery, outdoor Bonsai Garden and terrace, and realigned Pine Grove walk leading to the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden. Oh friends! If you have not had a chance to check this out in the summer, I highly recommend you do so! It is remarkable!

A Tradition of Japanese Gardens: In 1978, Saint Paul’s sister city, Nagasaki, Japan, presented a garden design as a gift to the city of Saint Paul. It was designed by Matsumi Matsuda, a well-known landscape architect. Funds were donated by the Ordway family, and the Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden was dedicated. In 1991, the Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden was completely renovated and rededicated.

In 2015, the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory of Como Park celebrated its 100th Birthday. In honor of the occasion, Como Park opened a new garden called the Centennial Garden. The new garden is located north of the main sidewalk as you enter the Visitor Center, which serves as the primary entrance to the Conservatory. In 2017, the Minnesota Garden and the Circle Garden opened, which is located to the south of the main sidewalk as you enter the Visitor Center.

Last but not least, a pollinator exhibit opened in 2019 and is open annually from June through Labor Day and is funded through the Legacy Amendment.

Plan Your Visit

The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is open year-round. During the winter, the Conservatory is open from 10am until 4pm, and during the summer, hours are extended until 6pm. Admission is free to the public; however, a $4 donation is suggested for adults and $2 for children.

Reservations are required to enter the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park. Go to the reservation page on the Como Park website to choose the date and time you would like to visit the Conservatory. All reservation holders should check-in at the Visitor Center entrance with the bar codes on their cell phones. This reservation is for the entire park, so be sure to check out the Como Park Zoo and other areas during your visit! If you visit during the summer, bring a picnic lunch to enjoy anywhere in this beautiful 384-acre park! As a kid, my family visited Como Park all the time bringing along a picnic lunch to enjoy!

Como Park offers a convenient drop-off zone, multiple on-site parking lots, and adjacent street parking. A variety of public transportation options are available year-round as well. Find directions and parking information on the Como Park website. During my visit to the Conservatory it was pretty busy, but I was able to find a parking spot in the parking lot by the Carousel, which is right by the Visitor Center entrance.

If you’re looking for some good food during your visit you can check out Zoböta Café. This indoor café is located in the Visitor Center and features delicious food for all ages. They also have free Wi-Fi available for guests.

Also be sure to check out Garden Safari Gifts for a fun souvenir to take home from your visit!

Oh friend, I hope you have an amazing time during your visit to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park! Be sure to set plenty of time aside, because there is so much to see! Enjoy!!

Additional Resource

MNopedia – Resource for reliable information about significant people, places, events, and things in Minnesota history